Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-24
In OLD MEXICO.
MATTERS OF INTERNATIONAL AND
DOMESTIC CONCERN.
The Cutting Claim Like BanQuo's
Ghost-Pcculiaritie of the
Post Office Department.

ing persistently On the Cutting claim,
Though with less bitterness than during
the first excitement, The general tone is
one of establishment that a person SO little
respected in his own country, and so uni
versally regarded by Americans here as an
out and out adventurer, shall be cham
pioned by the Government of the United
States.
A penny paper, which probably has
larger circulation than any other in the
City of Mexico, treats the subject in
humorous vein, and observes that Secretary
Bayard can hardly be aware of the colossal
cheeh" and monumental reputation for
general yiciousness which the claimant en-
joys in SO marked a degree 1t remarks
that at every banquet land they are numer-
ous), where Mexicans and Americans meet
to exchange good wishes for the perpetual
ton of peace between the two republics,
Cutting is spoken of with derision and
contempt. The editor adds that nobody
would have been surprised had Cutting ap-
peared in the company of Consul Brigham,
of Paso del Norte, the twain being " birds
of feather but to see him associated
with gentleman of the culture, refine
ment and position of Mr. Bayard, is indeed
remarkable spectacle. 1t is not often
that one is permitted to view a Cabinet
Minister check by jowl with vagabond
and adventurer.
Other prominent journals, in similar tone
half wonder, half ridicule-afiect to be-
lieve that the great American Govern
ment is indulging in little joke, and that
its Secretary of State has not really identi-
fed himself with so preposterous claim.
The latest dispatches from Washington,
via Associated Press, showing that Cutt-
ing's case is not under serious considera-
ton at the American Capital, have greatly
relieved public anxiety.
Another agitating subject just now is
the official investigation in progress as to
the cause of editor Naleriano Altamirano's
death. Perhaps you may remember the
circumstances, as stated in the United
States papers about the middle of last
September. 1t seems that the unfortunate
journalist had been at Il ball, which he
left near two o'clock A. NJ. accompanied by
his friend, Senior Morcelino Cardenas. Ina
locality entirely deserted at that hour, the
pair were stopped by three policemen, who
seized Altamirano and proceeded to drag
him roughly along. Naturally, the editor
resisted, demanding a reason for their out
rageous conduct whereupon the police
men closed in upon him, evidently with
murderous intention. They fired fourteen
shots at him, five of which took effect in
some vital part. They crushed in his
skull with terrific blow, and stabbed
him in the left side, leaving him stretched
on his back in the street-dead Senior
Cardenas, who attempted to assist his
friend, was several times fire upon, and
forced to flee for his life.
The murdered journalist was stanch
supporter Of the Federal authorities, as OPP
posed to those of the city, and there is lit
tie doubt that his taking off was Il pre-
meditated plan, the policemen having
been hired to do the deed Such occur
rences are not uncommon in Mexico, and
| persons who render themselves obnoxious
to those in authority are uncomfortable
liable to receive a quietus in some shape
generally under the guise of arrest for
an alleged otiense, or at the hands of I'M
known assassins.
| As if to compensate for the disastrous
| storms and destructive foundations which
| lately swept away whole towns and killed
! hundreds Of people on the Pacific coast of
| Mexico, the orange yield of this year has
| turned out better than ever before within
| the memory of misunderstanding the
report telegraphed to the world two
months ago that all the crops of that sec
ton, including oranges and coffee, were
totally destroyed by the storms aforesaid.
1t is true that the rivers which rise in
| the Tampa mountains became so swollen
by water-spout that they overfowed the
villages of Mier, Guerro and Quelito, each
containing from five to eight thousand in
habitants, many of whom persisted in the
| raging flood, and that all orchards in those
localities were uprooted and carried away;
| but everywhere else in the great orange
producing States of Sonora and Sinaloa
nature has atoned for these losses by be-
slowing unusual abundance.
The entire orange crop has just been
bought up for export by three fruit firms of
Chicago. Already more than forty car
loads have been shipped to that enterpris-
ing city, ten cars having been filled at a
single hacienda-that of Aranjnez, which
contains the finest orange grove in Sonora.
By the way, it is definitely stated that
arrangements have lately been completed
in St. Louis for erecting big hotel, on
the American plan, in Guaymas, Sonora's
principal seaport.
| 1t is to be hoped that the schedules of
the new Mexican tariff will have the effect
of stimulating American trade, which has
been so long INSTRUCTED by the tariffs OF
both countries. The last adjustment on
| this side of the line reduces the duty on
cotton thread forty cents per kilogram; on
calico, two cents and three cents per square
meter, according to the number Of threads
| On iron there is a reduction of twenty cents
per kilogram, and on bricks of sixty cents
per thousand. There are also considerable
reductions on furniture, canned goods.
liquors, etc.
The new postal treaty, Thich recently
went into effect, does not seem to be so
much of success. 1t was believed in
Mexico that great facilities for sending
mail to and receiving it from the United
States would result from the International
Postal Convention. So far, however, the
transactions have amounted to an insignifi-
cant fraction of what was expected.
Perhaps this failure on the part of buy
] SAS iiU SSilSlS ~ luItlONS pISStll SOIuel
opportunities is due to the fact that the
two countries have been so long accustomed
to an impenetrable Chinese wall standing
I in the way of free commercial intercourse,
they are now afraid to trust each other in
the facilities afforded. AS yet no perma-
nent regulations have been published gov
erning mercantile traffic by postal means in
Mexico but as soon as the Mexican people
clearly understand the advantages of being
able to order by mail, from catalogues and
price-lists, the innumerable articles of ne
cessity and luxury which are to be had
better and cheaper in every American city,
they will gladly avail themselves of the
new proviso regarding packages not ex-
ceeding seventy ounces, which may be
transported by mail, at small cost and little
trouble.
Merchants on both sides of the line are
anxiously hoping that the rules for pa, ing
duties Oh articles thus imported may be of
the simplest possible character, so as to
facilitate that kind of business The
method already adopted in the United
States can hardly be improved upon. All
parcels are to be opened in the Custom
! house through which they enter the coun-
try, when a blank is filled out classifying
the amount Of duty to be paid This doe
| ument is sent with the parcel to the Post